Bella Kay started the year with a bang when she released her breakout hit “iloveitloveitiloveit” back in January. Now, she just might close out the year on an even higher note with some new music.
The Texas-born alt-pop singer-songwriter graced the series premiere of Billboard’s new music podcast, Up & Coming With Kyle Denis, where she teased a potential deluxe edition of her 2026 debut studio album, My Reckless Abandon.
“I wish I could give you a definite answer because I change my mind every five minutes,” she said. “But it’s kinda giving deluxe!”
Kay released My Reckless Abandon on July 12, and the revelatory, incisive album reached No. 96 on the Billboard 200 and No. 14 on Top Alternative Albums. The 13-song set was led by “iloveitloveitiloveit,” which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, garnering over 269.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams through Nov. 7, according to Luminate. The 20-year-old co-wrote the entire album with Alexis “Idarose” Kesselman, with Grammy-nominated songwriter Alexander 23 and Thomas LaRosa also contributing.
She supported the album with her headlining Reckless Tour, which commenced on Sept. 8 at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse and visited major cities like Brooklyn, Chicago and Los Angeles before wrapping at Austin City Limits Festival in Texas on Oct. 9. Back in July, she graced the cover of Billboard’s Up & Coming issue alongside dance-pop breakout Slayyyter and two-time Latin Grammy winner Trueno. The following month, she was named to Billboard’s annual 21 Under 21 list, and in September she picked up a nomination for best new artist at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
In her Up & Coming episode, which is now available on all podcast platforms, Kay also discussed growing up watching Ariana Grande on Victorious, sharpening her songwriting skills through college coffeehouse performances and opening up for Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams.
“I was listening to a lot of Lizzie [McAlpine], Olivia [Rodrigo], Gracie [Abrams], Phoebe [Bridges] — all the greats,” she said of her songwriting influences. “And Ariana [Grande]. Over the years, I just kept being like, ‘Damn, this girl got banger!’ I think the first one I can remember was probably ‘Problem.’ I was like, ‘Who is this girl? This is Cat from Victorious?!’”
Billboard announced the launch of Up & Coming With Kyle Denis last week (Nov. 3). Hosted by staff writer Kyle Denis, the new weekly video podcast brings listeners behind the key career moments of some music‘s fastest-rising new stars. Billboard created the new show in partnership with SickBird Productions, inspired by its hit “Up & Comer of the Month” franchise. Up & Coming will highlight rising stars across pop, country, hip-hop, R&B and more, giving fans a closer look at the artists behind the songs dominating their playlists and social media timelines.
Listen to the full series premiere of Up & Coming With Kyle Denis below.
